Portable seat structure.



W. H. CURHS.

PORTABLE SEAT STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1911.

Patented Apr. 22,

3 SHEETS SHEET lryay w. H. cums. PORTABLE SEAT STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 24, NHL

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. H. CURTIS.

PORTABLE SEAT STRUCTURE.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 24, 1917.

Ga 11 0 9. i 13 99H 9 a n4 5. m A 1 H 5. Mn 9 m 731M: 8 1.. m 1 P WILLIAM H. CURTIS, 01 WEST BADEN, INDIANA.

v PORTABLE SEAT. STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied November 24, 1917. Serial No. 203,730.

To all whom it may conccm Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Cmrris, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of l/Vest Baden, in the county of Orange and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Seat Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible or folding and portable structures, and more especially to seats such as are used in circuses and other temporary installations.

The object of my invention is to reduce the amount of labor needed and time consinned in erecting, taking down and transporting seat structures of this character, as

well as to reduce the wear and tear thereon,

and also to render such structures'more safe when erected.

My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general perspective View of a section of circus seats embodying my invention, the seats being erected ready for use- Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same 'folded or collapsed ready for'transportation, some of the detachable parts, however, being omitted for sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the detached stringer sections;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the detached seat sections;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1, except that the seat sections are replaced by floor sections to support chairs for providing a higher grade of seating, such, for instance, as is used for the reserved seats in a circus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the bed of the structure on a larger scale than in the preceding figures to better show the constructional details, the View being from the side opposite to that in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 7 is a similar View taken from the same side as in Figs. 1 and 2, only one corner being shown. and parts of the stringer sections also being shown in dotted lines.

As shown herein, and as I prefer to construct my invention, there is a bed 1 made up of a plurality of longitudinal sills 2 and transverse bolsters 3. Preferably, these are all composed of steel channels; the sills 2 being placed with the webs upright and presented outwardly at their respective sides, and the bolsters 3 being placed with their Webs horizontal and their flat sides up against the lower sides of the lower flanges of the sills to which they are attached by rivets at (Fig. 6) passing through webs and flanges. This bed 1 is made as long as a section or unit of the seat structureis to be; preferably about thirty feet; and about as Wide as it is convenient to have a large wagon bed, such as circus wagons have; preferably not over eight feet. With these maximum dimensions, it, may be readily accommodated on a railway car.

This bed is provided with four wheels 5, which may be the heavy wagon wheels used on circus wagons, which are mounted on axles 6, connected by means of a suitable swivel device 7 to the under sides of the bolsters 3 (Fig. 5) and provided with a tongue or pole 8 (Fig. 2) which it will be understood may be as any other wagon pole and which is ,mounted in a suitable socket structure 9, extending from the axle 6 out to the end of the bed 1, from which it is detachable. Also, preferably, the axles at both ends are swiveled as above described, and provided with detachable poles as is common in circus wagon construction, so that the wagon may be readily guided at either end; there being suitable means to prevent the swiveling action of either axle when the other is being used to guide the wagon. Such construction not'being original with me, I do not deem it necessary to more specifically describe it herein.

It will be seen that the structure so far described is Virtually a wagon with a flat bed of open steel frame-Work rather long in proportion to its width, or, as above alluded to, of the maximum dimensions accommodated on an ordinary railway car. The near side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in Fig. 7, and as shown at the right in Fig. 5, will be called the front side in accordance with the position it assumes in the completed seat structure; the other being the rear side. Angle-plates 10 and 11 in pairs are riveted to the web of the sill 2 at this side in spacedapart vertical position with their legs riveted to the sill extending in opposite directions along the sill with their lower ends Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

abutting the flat upper side of a respective bolster 3 which extends out on th s front side of the bed as far as the outstanding legs of the angle-plates do; thus reinforcing the support of these angle-plates where they are riveted to the sill 2. These angle-plates 10 and 11 extend a considerable distance above the upper side of the sill 2, and their p-aral lel legs have allied openings 12 through them some distance above said upper side.

At the rear, stirrup-plates 13 are riveted to the web of the sill 2 at the rear and abut the flat upper sides of respective bolsters 3 which also extend out at this side, being-thus reinforced as the angle-plates 10 and 11.

The bolsters 3 extend a considerable distance past the respective stirrup-plates 13 and on the fiat upper sides of their rear end parts have pairs of angle-plates let and 15 riveted with legs extending upward and spaced apart with alined openings 16 through them.

In the stirrup-plates 13 are fixed upright posts 17, preferably of wood, and on the front side of each post are fixed a pair of angle-plates 18 and 19, while on the rear side of each post are fixed a pair of angleplates 20 and 21, these plates being fixed to the post. preferably by means of rivets 22 passing through the opposite plates 18 and 20 and the opposite plates 19 and 21 and through the post 17 in each instance, while the post is reinforced by a bolt 23 passing through it at right angles to these rivets 22. These angle-plates 18 and 19 are positioned and spaced apart like the plates 10 and 11 at the front side, and the pairs of plates have alined openings 24 and 25, respectively. It is the purpose of these angle plates on the upper end part of the post 17 to support in conjunction with the plates 10 and 11 at the front side and with other means hereinafter to be described at the rear, a succession of stringer sections in the inclined position well known in circus seats; and, therefore, the angle-plates 18 and 19 on the front side of the post 17 are lower than the plates 20 and 21 on the rear side in conformity with this purpose.

Each stringer 26 is, as here shown, made up of a front pair of sections 27 and 28 connected together by a suitable liinge 29 with its pivot at their lower edges where they meet; a rear pair of sections 30 and 31 similarly connected by a hinge 32; and a middle detachable section 33. The front end of the foremost section 27 is suitably beveled to rest on the ground as is common with the front ends of seat stringers, and the rear end part of the other section 28 of the front pair has a. transverse opening adaptedto aline with the openings 12 when this end part of the stringer section is brought between the angle-plates 10 and 11, so that it is supported in that position by :means of a pin 31 passing through the alined openings in the plates and stringer section. This pin 31 may remain permanently in this position, thus forming a. hinge on which the pair'of sections 27 and 28 are swung upward While the foremost section 27 folds down on the other section 28 by means of the hinge 29, as seen in Fig. 2. The front one of the rear pair of sections 30 and 31 comes between the plates 20 and 21 of the upper part of the post 17 with an opening to aline with the openings 25, so that a pin 35 passed through the alined openings in the plates and stringer section will support the section at this end. Preferably, this end of the section -is beveled to fit snugly against the rear side of the post between the plates 20 and 21 when the pin 35 is in place. This pin 35,

however, is withdrawn, so that this pair of sections 30 and 31 may be completely detached from the upper part of the post 17 to bring this front end of the section 30 down between the upwardly extending flanges of the plates 14 and 15 on the rear end parts-of the bolsters. 3, whereupon the pin 35 is passed through the alined openings 16 in these plates and through the opening in the stringer section, whereupon this pair of sections may be swung up on this pin 35 with the section 31 swinging down on the section 30 by means of the hinge 32. It will thus be seen that after this pair of sections is transferred to a new support, they are folded up on the rear side'of the bed 1 the sane as the pair 27 and 28 are on the front s1 e.

. The middle detachable section 33 is adapted to have its rear end part brought between the front parts of the plates 18 and 19 of the post 17 and a transverse opening is alined with the openings 24 in these plates when the rear end of the section 33, 'suitably beveled, abuts closely against the front side of the post 7 between the plates 18 and 19. Thus, a pin 36 passed through the alined openings in the stringer section and plates firmly supports the rear end of this section. The section 28 of the front pair is so proportioned and beveled at its rear end that it .leaves a short space between the plates 11 and 12 into which the front end "part of the middle section 33 fits snugly, and

which front end is suitably beveled to abut closely against the rear end of the section 28.

The various sections 27 28, 30, 31 and 33 are preferably made of wood and provided with flanking metal plates. 27' and 27", 28 and 28, 30 and 30", 31 and 31", 33' and 33" at their front and rear ends, respectively. These plates reinforce the wood and give it added strength in the completed structure and prevent destruction of the ends of the sections when being han-r dled; and Where a section has an opening through it for a pin, as the pins 34, 35 and 36, the pin is also through these metal plates, so that the strength of the metal is added to that of the wood about the pin.

Each section has its appropriate ,cleats which may be complete, as the cleats 37, or

' whole and fractional cleats accordingly, so

long as the unfolded and straightened stringer presents a suitable number of cleats each of suflicient size to support the seat elements, as in ordinary seat construction.

As shown. in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the seat boards are relatively narrow as in the well-known construction of the less expensive seats in a circus or the like. The seat boards are permanently fixed to the hingedtogether sections 27 and 28 and 30 and 31; and like the cleats to which they are attached, may be divided into fractional boards at the junction of the stringer sections as the fractional boards 44 and 45 at the junction of the front sections 27 and 28, best seen in Fig. 2. As here shown, the board 46 next to the junction of the rear sections 30 and 31 is not divided, but is located entirely on the cleats 42 of the sections 30. The other boards 47 fixed to the whole cleats of these sections are similar to this board 46. Preferably, they are fixed to the cleats by small angle-plates 48 each having a leg lying along the under side of the seat board and the other leg along against the side of the cleat with these legs securely screwed or riveted to these parts. One such angle-plate at each cleat is sufficient. These angle-plates are seen clearly at the rear in Fig. 2.

For convenience in folding up the struc-/ ture, I prefer to not have these seat boards 44, 45, 46 and 4-7 continuous throughout the length of the unit, but divide them midway of the length; and to properly support them at the middle, the stringers next to the middle are placed somewhat nearer together than any other two. Thus, the seat boards do not overhang these stringers at the middle much more than they do the stringers at the end of the unit. It is permissible to ailow them to overhang from about six to twelve inches. That is to say, the spacing between these two middle stringers should be about two feet while the others may be spaced three and one-half to four feet, as in ordinary seat construction.

The middle stringer sections 33 being entirely removed from their supports when the device is folded or collapsed, the seat boards 49 are not fixed to them, but these parts are made separate like ordinary circus seat elements, as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the only diflerence is in having the boards 50 fully as wide as the cleats are long. Some of these are fractional boards such as the boards 51 at the front and. at the middle rear, or the boards 52 and 53 at the junction of the rear pair of sections. Such wide boards thus form floors adapted to afford secure support for chairs 54 and for the occupants of the chairs, being thus more comfortable and safe than the more inexpensive construction. It will be understood that any suitable seating means may be mounted on-these boards.

To support the rear part of the structure, there are provided higher jacks 55 under the rear parts of the stringer sections 31 and lower jacks 56 on the front sections 30 of the rear pair, as in ordinary seat construction. Also, I prefer to provide a short jack 57 to support the front pair of sections 27 and 28, this jack being located close to the junction of these sections.

Long hook bars 58 are connected to the extreme rear sections 31 at the ends of the structure by eyes 59, and the foremost sections 27 have eyes 60 in which these hooks of these bars 58 may engage when the structure is folded; the bar thus extending across and forming tension means to hold the side structures up, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the structure is converted into a practical wagon with high partly closed sides between which may be loaded the detachable stringer sections 33 and seat sections 49 and the jacks 55, 56 and 57, as well as a great many other articles which maj be safely transported in such a wagon, as for instance tent poles and the like. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the chairs or other seating means may be loaded into the wagon bed I thus formed.

With seats provided according to my invention and erected as shown in Fig. 1, they are made ready for transportation, after the detachable seat sections 49 and stringer sections 33 are removed from their positions and placed down on the bed 1 of the structure, by merely removing the rear pins 35,'

' site.

-onto a railway car as other circus wagons are.

When the seats are to be erected on the next site, the wagon is as readily unloaded from the railway car and drawn to the new The bars 58 are then unhooked and the front sections 27 and 28 dropped down into position and provided with their jacks 57; the rear sections 30 and 31 are straightened and brought back onto their jacks 55 and 56 which are in partly elevated position, so that the front ends of the sections 30 are readily raised for attachment to the upper parts of the posts 17 after being detached from the plates ll and 15; after which the jacks 55 and 56 are brought fully into their proper positions; then the detachable stringer sections 33 are placed in position across the bed 1 and the detachable seat sections 49 placed thereon. The unit is then ready for use.

It will be readily seen that these operations of taking down and putting up the seats constructed according to my invention require very few laborers in comparison to those required for handling all of the separate stringers, jacks and seat boards of ordinary seats; not to mention the necessary stakes or other reinforcing means that must be used when seats are built up from such a large number of separate pieces.

With my invention, the heavy bed 1 supported on its wheels 5 with the stringers firmly connected thereto, and in turn having the seat boards of the front and rear pairs of sections rigidly fixed to the stringers and the foremost stringers resting directly on the ground, precludes any forward and rearward or longitudinal shifting of the structure. The heavy wagon structure prevents any forward slippage as is such a frequent cause of disaster with ordinary circus seats, and the engagement of the front sections 27, as well as of the various jacks with the ground, prevents any longitudinal I rolling of the wagon on its wheels.

Another great saving is effected as a result of having the stringers and seat boards permanently connected, in that inequalities of the ground on which the units are placed, are readily indicated by the structure itself, so that the workmen erecting the seats may readily see where to block up the front end of the stringer in a low place or excavate in a high place to admit the stringer, which is held firmly in its proper position because connected to all of the other stringers of the same kind at that end of the unit. In ordinary seat construction, this leveling requires considerable skill and much time, because the separate structural elements are in themselves no guides for this. The result is that in hurried work or with not sufficiently skilled labor, the seats are not properly placed some stringers are higher than others, the scat boards do not lie evenly (especially with the common method of lapping the boards) so that many of the seat boards have their ends projecting on which people are tripped, or have their ends unsupported, so that the boards are thrown upward when the unsupported ends are stepped upon, and. various other discrepancies occur; all of which greatly increase the danger of persons falling between the seat boards and being injured. With my invention, the only loose seat boards are those directly over the bed of thewagon, and these are certain to be level, supported as they are by the stringer sections 33 resting entirely on the wagon bed structure. With all of the rest of the seat boards fixed to the stringers, any occasional inaccuracy in placing the stringers on the ground or placing their jacks under them will not materially endanger the occupant of the structure, because any occasional lack of support in any part of the structure is compensated for in the continuousness of the structure, and the great stability afforded by the wagon-bed foundation.

It will be understood that a circus or the like may be equipped with as many of these units as are necessary to give the required seating capacity, and in such proportion as between the kind shown in Fig. 5 and those shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive, as is desirable, and these may be placed successively end to end; each unit constituting a section of the seating capacity and not necessarily being abutted closely to the next or accurately leveled with respect thereto; be-

cause frequent passages from one to the other i is not necessary. The occupants of the seats are directed to their proper sections or units and need not pass from one to the other. This obviates any need of, leveling the foundation wagon structures of the various units relative to each other; and it is sufficient to push them into position one after the other; this being accomplished usuall by the aid ofelephants as in the handling of other heavy circus wagons.

While all of the advantages of stability,

continuousness and ready port-ability are attion.

While I have shown and described specifically certain preferred examples of my invention, it will be understood that considerable modification therefrom is possible without departing from the scope and spirit of'the invention, and therefore,-having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable seat structure comprising a plurality of sections, each comprising a plurality of seat elements to afiord seats arranged in rows longitudinally of said-sections, said plurality of sections being adapted to be extended in direction transversely of the sections into a substantially single inclined plane, in which condition each one of said rows of seats is supported at a materially difl'erent height from that of each otherone of said rows of seats, and said p-lurality of sections being adapted to be drawn together in said direction transversely of said sections for transportation, and wheels on said structure forming the sole support of said structure when said sections are drawn together as aforesaid, and rotatable in upright planes extending substantially longitudinally of said sections.

2. A portable seat structure comprising a wagon element, and seat elements adapted to be extended therefrom for use or retracted thereinto for transportation, said seat elements being extended from opposite sides of said wagon element at different heights whereby they are in substantially a single inclined plane when extended for use, detachable seat elements, and supporting means for these detachable elements whereby said detachable elements are adapted to be mounted across said wagon element substantially in said inclined plane with the extended seat elements, or detached from said wagon element.

3. A portable seat structure comprising a wagon element, and seat elements adapted to be extended therefrom into a substantially single inclined plane for use, or retracted thereinto for transportation, said retracted seat elements being adapted to stand upright at the opposite sides of the wagon, whereby an inclosure is formed into which articles may be loaded for transportation on said wagon element.

4. A portable seat structure comprising a wagon element, and seat elements adapted to be extended therefrom for use or retracted thereinto for transportation, said seat elements being extended from opposite sides of said wagon element at diiferent heights whereby they are in substantially a single inclined plane when extended for use, detachable seat elements, and supporting means for these detachable elements whereby said detachable elements are adapted to be mounted across said wagon element substantially in said inclined plane with the extended seat elements or detached from said wagon element, said retracted seat elements being adapted to stand upright at said opposite sides of the wagon, whereby an inclosure is formed into which articles may be loaded for transportation on said wagon element.

5. A portable seat structure comprising a bed part, seat elements at opposite sides of said bed part,'and means for supporting said elements partly on said bed part and partly on the ground in a substantially single incl ined plane.

6. A portable seat structure comprising a bed part, seat elements at opposite sides ol said bed part, means for supporting said elements partly on said bed part and partly on the ground in a substantially single inclined plane, and other seat elements and means for supportin these other seat elements across said be part substantially in said plane.

7. A portable seat structure comprising a bed part, seat elements hinged to opposite sides of said bed part at different heights, to be swung out from said bed part into a substantially single inclined plane, the lower element being adapted to rest partly on the ground when swung out, and means for partly supporting the higher element on the ground.

8. A portable seat structure comprising a bed part, seat elements hinged to opposite sides of said bed part at different heights, to be swung out from said bed part into a substantially single inclined plane,'the lower element being adapted to rest partly on the ground when swung out, means for partly supporting the higher element on the ground, another seat element, and means for supporting this other seat element across said bed part substantially in said plane.

9. A portable seat structure comprising a bed part, seat elements hinged to opposite sides of said bed part at different heights,

to be swung out from said bed part into a substantially sin le inclined plane,;the lower element being agapted to rest partly on the ground when swung out, means for partly supporting the higher element on the ground, said higher element, where it ishinged, being detachable from said bed part, and a lower supporting means for the detached element on said bed part.

10. A portable seat structure comprising an elongated bed part, a plurality of pairs of stringer sections hinged together, corresponding sections of each pair being hinged to one side of said bed part, and the other sections, where they are hinged to these sections, being adapted to swing up on these sections, whereby the pairs of sections may be straightened and swung down with the free ends of said other sections adapted to rest on the ground, a plurality of upright posts fixed to the other side of said bed in transverse alinement of each post and on the outside of said bed therefrom, to receive the end parts of the respective stringer sections that are hinged to the posts, these airs of stringer sections being adapted to e swung together into upright position onthis latter means while the pairs of stringer sections first described are swung into upright position on their hinges at their side of the bed, means for supporting the straightened. and upwardly swung pairs of stringer sections on the ground, and stringer sections detachably mounted on said bed with corresponding ends adjacent to the upper end parts of said posts and corresponding other ends adjacent to where said first-mentioned strin er sections are hinged to said bed, to be substantially continuous with the respective pairs of stringer sections at opposite sides of the bed when the stringer sections are straightened and swung down and up, respectively, and elements adapted to lie longitudinally of the structure on the various stringer sections when thus swung down and up.

11. A portable seat structure comprising an elongated bed part, a plurality of pairs of stringer sections hinged together, corresponding sections of each pair being hinged to one side of said bed part, and'the other sections, where they are hinged to these sections, being adapted to swing up on these sections, whereby the pairs of sections may be straightened and swung down with the free ends of said other sections adapted to rest on the ground, a plurality of upright posts fixed to the other side of said bed in transverse alinement with said pairs of stringer sections, a plurality of stringer sections hinged together, meansforhinging corresponding sections of these pairs to respective ones of said posts, and the other sections of these pairs, where they are hinged to these sections, being adapted to swing upward on these sections, so that the pairs of sections may be straightened and swung up from that-side of the bed, means on said bed near the base of each post and on the outside of said bed therefrom, to receive .the end parts of the respective stringer sections that are hinged to the posts, these pairs of stringer sections being adapted to be swung together into upright position on this-latter means while the pairs of stringer sections first described are swung sections may into upright position on their hinges at their side of the bed, means for supporting the straightened and upwardly swun pairs of stringer sections on the groun and stringer sections detachably mounted on said bed with corresponding ends adjacent to the upper end parts of said posts and corresponding other ends adjacent to where said first-mentioned stringer sections are hinged to said bed, to be substantially continuous with the respective pairs of stringer sections at opposite sides of the bed when the stringer sections are straightened and swung down and up, respectively, a lurality of elements fixed to correspon ing sections of the pairs at opposite sides of said bed part and running lon 'tudinally of the structure, and elements to lie on said detachable stringer sections longitudinally of the structure over said bed part.

12. A portableseat structure comprising an elongated bed part, a plurality of pairs of stringer sections hinged together, corresponding sectionsof each pair being hinged to one side of said bed part, and the other sections, where they are hinged to'these sections, being adapted to swing up on these sections, whereby the pairs of sections may be straightened and swung down with the free ends of said other sections adapted to rest on the ground, a plurality of upright posts fixed to the other side of said bed in transverse alinement with said pairs of stringer sections, a plurality of stringer sections hinged together, means for hinging corresponding sections of these pairs to respective ones of said posts, and the other sections of these pairs, where they are hinged to these sections, being adapted to swing upward on these sections, so that the pair of be straightened and swung up from that side of the bed, means on said bed near the base of each post and on the outside of said bed therefrom, to receive the end parts of the respective stringer sections that are hinged to the posts, these pairs of stringer sections being adapted to be swung together into upright position on this latter means while the pairs of stringer sections first described are swung into upright position on their hinges at their side of the bed, means for supporting the straightened and upwardly swung pairs of stringer sections on the ground, and stringer sections detachably mounted on said bed with corresponding ends adjacent to the upper end parts of said posts and corresponding other ends adjacent to where said first-mentioned stringer sections are hinged to said bed, to be substantially continuous with the respective pairs of stringer sections at opposite sides of the bed when the stringer sections are straightened and swung down and up; respectively, a plurality of elements fixed to corresponding sections of the pairs at opin a plurality of parts, whereby the pairs of stringer sections near one end of the structure may be brought upright or straightened and swung down or up independently of those near the other end of the structure.

' 13. In a portable .seat structure, a bed,

stringer sections hinged to one side of'said bed and adapted to swing down to be supported on the ground, a plurality of posts fixed on the other side of said bed substantially in transverse alinement with respective ones of the aforesaid stringer sections and extending up from said bed, a plurality of stringer sections adapted to be hinged to the upper parts of respective ones of said posts or detached therefrom, a plurality of means on said other side of said bed located near the bases of respective ones of said posts to receive said sections when detached from said posts, these sections when hinged on said posts being adapted to be swung into upwardly inclined positions, means to support these sections on the ground in their upwardly inclined positions, detachable stringer sections each adapted to have one end supported by the upper part of a respective one of said posts and the other end supported on said first-mentioned side of saidbed in substantialy alinement with the corresponding stringer sections, said stringer sections on this first-mentioned side being adapted to be swung into upright po sition, and those of the other side being adapted to be swung into upright position on the respective means near the bases of said posts, means to hold the opposite pairs of sections in upright position, and elements 4 to lie on said stringer sections longitudinally of the structure when said sections are swung up and down, respectively, and when said detachable sections are in place.

.14. In a portable seat structure, a bed comprising longitudinal sills, transverse bolsters extending from one sill to the other and fixed to the lower sides thereof, a plurality of hinging means on the outer side of one of said sills and extending above the upper side of said sill, said bolsters extending past said sill under and against respective ones of said hinging means, stringer sections hinged to said bed by respective ones of said hinging means, each section being adapted to swing into upright position, or to swing down and be supported on the ground, a plurality of posts fixed to the outer side of the other stringer and extending up therefrom, said bolsters extending past this stringer under and against respective posts, and said bolsters extending past these posts, a plurality of hinging means on respective bolsters where they thus extend, a plurality of hinging means on the outer sides of respective posts near their tops, stringer sections, each adapted to be hinged to a respective post by said hinging means thereon, or detached therefrom "and hinged to the respective bolster by said hinging means on the bolster, these sections, when hinged on said posts, being adapted to be swung into upwardly inclined positions, and being adapted to be swung into upright position when hinged to said bolsters, means to support these sections on the ground in their upwardly inclined positions, supporting means on the inner sides of said posts near their tops, detachable stringer sections, each adapted to have one end supported by one of .these supporting means on a respective post, and the other end supported on the first-mentioned stringer when the sections hinged thereto are swung down, means to hold the opposite pairs of sections in their upright positions, and elements to lie on said stringer sections longitudinally of the structure when said pairs are swung up and down, respectively, and when said detachable sections are in place.

WILLIAM H. CURTIS.

'Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW. 

